An Annotated List: SENIOR SECONDARY

Our thanks to those 28 English Departments in the Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions who took time to share their teaching enthusiasms and endorsements. The comments have been pretty much un-edited. Additions and emendations to this list are most welcome. Simply send them to Terry Locke, School of Education, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton.

Texts have been loosely categorised according to junior or senior secondary. Teachers are seldom unanimous in allocating a year level to a text. What follows is a kind of best fit.

Novels (Senior)

• A Clockwork Orange, by Alan Burgess. Powerful stimulus for form 7.
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Still accessible because of the vibrant language and 'man alone' themes.
• Alex, by Tessa Duder
• Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood. Seventh form girls.
• Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Can be studied on several levels. Used at SC level with NESB students. Great enjoyment. Language level appropriate.
• A Room With a View, by E.M. Forster. Excellent for able seventh formers. Strong imagery and thematic content. Good for narrative point of view.
• A Soldier's Tale, by M. K. Joseph. Works well when studied in conjunction with the film. Short but has depth, an interesting narrative method and theme.
• At the Whistlestop Cafe, by Fanny Fragg. A humourous insight into realtionship.s
• The Bone People, by Kerry Hulme. Year 13. "My favourite novel ever to teach."
• Brave New World, by A Huxley. A lot of useful teaching material.
• Cal, by Bernard MacLaverty.
• Catch 22 , by Joseph Heller. Works well when studied in conjunction with the film.
• Catcher in the Rye, by J D Salinger. Dated but still appeals to sixth-formers.
• The Course of Honour, by Steven Saylor. Excellent background for classical studies.
• Driving Force, by Alan Bunn. Used in lower ability forms 5/6.
• The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje. Has worked really well for form 7, not to be confused with the film, quite a different focus of story/theme, 'complex' enough for Bursary, and students enjoyed it.
• Feral City, by Rosie Scott. A dystopian novel in an Auckland setting.
• The Fixer, by Bernard Malamud. Excellent for a variety of thematic treatments, historical, justice, man alone, psychological studies
• Flight of the Albatross, by Deborah Savage. NZ setting. Maori/Pakeha, good writing.
• Fried Green Tomatoes, by Fanny Fragg. A humourous insight into relationships.
• The Great Gatsby, by Scott Fitsgerald. Works well when studied in conjunction with the film. The 'perfect'novel.
• The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Excellent female and social issues, brilliant writng.
• The Heart's Wild Surf, by Stephanie Johnson. Sixth form girls
• I Heard the Owl Cal My Name by Margaret Craven.
• The Kitchen God's Wife, by Amy Tan. Worked well with form 7.
• In My Father's Den, by Maurice Gee. Popular with all students, excellent for extending the more able ones. Reasonably 'easy' read which attracts even non-readers due to its mystery/intrigue format yet offers an in-depth senior text.
• Lady Oracle, by Margaret Atwood. Gender issues, stereotypes.
• Leaves of the Bunyan Tree, by Albert Wendt (Year 12/13)
• Letters from the Inside, by John Marsden. Students devour this! Issue-based studies very successful
• Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Always high involvement with this.
• Love, Charlie Mike, by Kate de Goldi. 1998 NZ Post Children's Book Awards finalist. A strong female character.
• Mutuwhenua, by Patricia Grace. Holds interest, good for exploring ideas of spirituality Some resistance at first but girls responded well to cultural relationship issue.s
• Not Her Real Name, by Emily Perkins.
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Very successful with male students. Still powerful impact. (year 11)
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesay.
• The Outsiders, by S E Hinton. Enjoyed by both 4ths and 5ths. An argument for the fact that we are a product of our environment. Students relate well to the theme of growing up on the wrong side of the track. Great for teenage angst.
• Out Walked Mel, by Paula Boock. Contemporary, teenage issues, NZ author, not too long , form 5 and 6 (deals with a 6th former but may be too easy).
• Once Were Warriors, by Alan Duff. Unfortunately a little dated. Good resource material available. Appropriate for some form 7 English classes, style is distinctive.
• Oracles and Miracles,
• by Steven Eldred-Grigg
• . Great characterisation and style.Used in addition to NZ Literature timeline study with form 6. Interesting romantic structure, a good background of the period, great read. A best selling novel about twin sisters growing up in Christchurch in 1930's/40's, well written, issues of childhood, poverty, identity.
• Poseidon's Gold, by Lindsay Davis. Excellent background for classical studies
• Possum Perkins, by William Taylor. Girls enjoy the strong character of Rosie -- dares to be different. Explores the issuse of incest, alcoholism and friendship.
• Potiki, by Patricia Grace. (Form 6) Good with multicultural classes. Some resistance at first but worth persisting with, some good work as a result.
• The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene (year 12 level)
• Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin. Relationships and themes relevant to this age group. Senior Form 7, because of the film, it's a real winner. Arguments about marriage, shows the heroine able to withstandfamily/social pressures and meet her own neeeds
• The Redemption of Elsdon Bird, by Noel Virtue Students sympathise with the main character.
• Roman Blood, by Steven Saylor. Excellnt background for classical studies.
• Slide the Corner, by Fleur Beale.
• Smith's Dream, by C.K. Stead
• Sons for the Return Home, by Albert Wendt. Excellent for forms 6/7 level, related issues on Pacific migration to NZ
• This Boy's Life, by Tobias Wolfe.
• To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Classic read, close study of small town life which develops many worldly issues. Still love this one, a rich texture, students enjoy the characterisation
• Tomorrow when the War Began, by JohnMarsden. Action packed and works well with less able readers. Has been used with year 11 although many read it at an earlier stage. Students have read this who have previously struggled to read a whole book before, plenty of action. Works well for boys and girls at form 5, narrative hooks them and many read other books in the series subsequently.
• Truth, Dare or Promise, by Paula Boock Award winning novel - explores teenage lesbian relationship.
• Underground Man, by Edward F Abood. A recent read, enjoyed it immensely.
• Water in the Blood, by Alan Bunn NZ outdoors, kayaking, teenage conflicts/issues. Works well with boys and less able readers, high interest.
• The Whale Rider, by Witi Ihimaera. Gets a superb response. Excellent for exploring language.Students respond to the lyrical, mythical quality. A book that always goes well with classes
• The Whole of the Moon, by Duncan Stuart. Excellent support from author website and Personal; visit (Auckland Area)
• Wild Pork and Watercress, by Barry Crump. Also other titles by Crump. Used with less able senior classes.

Non-fiction (Senior)

• A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Ivan Solzhenitsyn
• A Dissolving Dream, by Heather Benson.
• Alive, by Piers Paul Reed. Interesting for form 5, showing theme and character, film useful as extension.
• Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt. Has received critical acclaim, issues of poverty and childhood deprivation, disfunctional families, very popular and excellent for seminar work/close reading
• Being Pakeha, by Michael King (year 13)
• Bishops, by Mona Williams
• Black Boy, by Richard Wright. Very useful for form 7.
• Blue Highways, by Least Heat-Moon
• Chaos, by James Gleick. Some students find it 'unputdownable'!
• Death of the Rainbow Warrior, by Michael King.
• Dibs In Search of Self, by Virginia Axlene. Study of story, theme, character, language extension, useful for point of view
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Clear prose, manageable length, moving story.
• Escape from Bosnia, by Sue McCauley. Aza's story as told to Sue Mc Cauley. Used in a thematic study of war, a real love story of how a NZ pilot smuggled out his future wife, well written /retold
• First Light, by Carol O'Biso.
• Greek News, by Anton Powell. Ancient history in newspaper format -- also news writing.
• Gunner Inglorious, by Jim Henderson
• Hand Me Down, by Lee Bonheur. Identifiable and familiar issues, NZ book.
• Hiroshima, by John Hersey. Powerful and leads to some excellent transactional writing. Powerful message, easy to read and follow, graphic.
• The Human Zoo, by Desmond Morris. Great discussion provoker
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou.
• Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer Have not tried this with a class but I think it would be great to do, issues of survival, human endeavour.
• Krstyna's Story, by Hilina Ogunowska-Coates. Used with bright year 10's as an extension in a war theme. Krstyna is one of the Polish children brought to NZ by the Frazer government, compelling.
• Looking for Allibrandi, by Melina Marcheta. 1993 Multicultural Book of the Year Award. Growing up as an Italian Australian.
• Malo Tupou researched by Lois Webster. Very real for our Pacific Island students
• Mihipeka - The Early Years, by Mihi Edwards. Growing up in NZ. All female narrators.
• My Left Foot, Christy Brown. Easy to read, has an accompaying video, heart-warming, girls especially liked it.
• Not Without My Daughter, by Mahmoody. Year 13. Kids loved it, can't believe this actually happens.
• Oracles and Miracles, by Steven Eldred-Grigg
• Roman News . Ancient history in newspaper format also news writing
• Running on Empty: the Ropati Story , by Iva Ropati and Jim Mather. Good 'middle' text, especially good in multicultural, urban school.
• Sandra Edge:
• Full Circle: An Autobiogrphy with Joseph Romanos
• Schindler's Ark, by Thomas Keneally
• Sleepers, by Lorengo Carraterra Students
• all read it (quite a feat for 7th formers), has some literary merit, strong narrative.
• Stranger than Fiction, by Terry Locke
• To the Island, by Janet Frame. Used at form 7.
• Tooth and Nail, by Mary Findlay. Growing up in NZ, female narrator. Quite long but often 'hooks' slower students, plenty in it for study. A great read, entertaining but still excellent background for the period.
• Voices of Gallipoli, by Maurice Shadbolt. Eye-opener for many students, strong personal response from this, structurally interesting, humourous, easy to read, has research potential, a strong personal voic.e
• The Web, by Deborah Furley. Anorexia and associated problems
• Whina, by Michael King (year 13)
• Wild Swans, by Jung Chang An excellent read, so much to it.

Films (Senior)

• All Quiet on the Western Front Delbert Mann 1979 dir. War film with good 'personal' interaction for audience. Solid SC literature and leads well into war poetry or research
• An Angel at My Table Jane Campion dir. Year 12. Good for year 13 film study and extends knowledge of NZ literature.
• 2001: A Space Odessy dir. Stanley Kubrick. Meaning of Life module, used with an able sixth form
• Blowout Travolta. "So sexist and revolting students can see through the superficial values and get lots out of it."
• Bladerunner (dir Ridley Scott) Excellent resource for content/cinematographical genre, fim noir. Excellent Internet resources. Interesting look at noir genre. Works well in a compare and contrast exercise with the film. Form 7 film study, the 'film noir'/sci fi crossover is good for discussion of visual style, a fascinating film, provokes a lot of discussion.
• Big Sleep 1978 Michael Winner dir. Goes well with 'Bladerunner' and 'Maltese Falcon' as 'film noir' study.
• Braveheart (Gibson dir.) Used at SFC level , good for study of genre and film techniques, fantastic film, lots of special effects, interesting camera craft, colourful characters, clear themes, emotionally uplifting. Classic Hollywood style/ epic film, enjoyed by boys and girls. "Has helped to get my less able class interested in history."
• Breaker Morant Broken English dir. Gregor Nicholas. Forms 6/7 multicultural, family issues.
• Cal Pat O'Connor dir.
• China Syndrome James Bridges dir. Nuclear issues, recommended for years 11/12
• Chinatown Roman Polanski dir. Good public and private issues, example of film noir
• The Colour Purple Stephen Speilberg dir.

Crossroads Walter Hill dir.

• Dances With Wolves Kevin Costner dir.
• Dead Poet's Society Peter Weir dir. SC level. Substantial issues tackled. Good examples of camera work, well developed characters. An effective theme study, form 6 enjoy it.
• The English Patient Anthony Minghella dir.

End of the Golden Weather Ian Mune dir.
Escape From Sobibor Jack Gold dir.
The Fifth Element Luc Besson dir. Excellent plot and sub-plot development. Extensive use of metaphor, very good visuals
Forrest Gump Robert Zemeckis dir.

• Forgotton Silver Peter Jackson dir. Good for looking at documentary structure, and constructed truth/reality.
• The Fugitive A Davis dir. Form 5 certificate film, strong characters/theme, no resources
• Gallipoli Peter Weir dir.
• Form 5. Still a successful model of film technique, symbolism and recurring motifs. Students enjoy it and are moved, they relate well to the young characters.
• Good Morning Vietnam Barry Levinson dir.
• Heavenly Creatures, directed by Peter Jackson. Thought provoking. Great in a conservative, homophobic rural school!! Well produced. Pupils are shocked to learn it is a true story, NZ's most famous director. Much appreciated by students, lots to discuss, year 12 film study. Excellent for study of film techniques. Sensitive in attempts to understand all characters, wonderful techniques.
• The Joy Luck Club Wayne Wang dir.
• Judge Dread Danny Cannon dir.
• The Killing Fields, (dir Roland Joffe) Powerful
• Kitchen Sink Alison McLean dir. Sixth form surrealist module
• The Last of the Mohicans Michael Mann dir.
• Lean on Me John G A Arvidson. Relevant to students.
• Lord of the Flies Harry Hook dir.(new version) Based on the novel by William Golding. Always high involvement with this
• Macbeth (Polanski version)
• Maltese Falcon . John Huston dir. 1941 Goes superbly with 'Bladerunner' as 'fim noir' study
• Michael Collins Neil Jordan dir. Topic for SC history.
• Mississippi Burning Alan Parker dir. Form 7 film study. Racial conflict in southern USA, powerful symbolism/issues.
• Muriel's Wedding P J Hogan dir. Provokes plenty of debate - Is it a comedy? Well produced.
• My Left Foot Jim Sheridan dir. Form 6 film, very good personal social context, some resources available.
• Nell Michael Apted dir.

Ngati Barry Barclay dir. Low budget film, interesting concepts and filming, spiritual.

• Of Mice and Men Gary Sinise dir.
• Once Were Warriors Lee Tamahori dir. Form 6/7
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Milos Forman dir. Forms 4 - 6. Gripping. Old but very powerful. They love it! Really empathise with the character.s
• Othello (Branagh version) Good symbolic images, colour etc. Came with a good teaching guide. Kids were glued to it.
• The Outlaw Josie Wales Clint Eastwood dir. Filled with delicious film cliches.
• The Piano Jane Campion dir. Upper school , excellent study. Difficult to come to terms withbut well worth it.
• The Power of One Alvidsen. Good storyline and theme, some excellent photographic sequences, students enjoy the music.
• Rain Man Barry Levinson dir. Forms 6/7
• Ransom Gibson. Plenty of good film analysis possible on this.
• Ruby and Rata Form 5. NZ film good for character studies and film technique.
• Rebel Without a Cause Nicholas Ray dir. Interesting for discussion of themes and social background, the 'teenage' phenomenon, plenty of visual interest too.
• Romeo and Juliet (Zeferelli version)
• Romeo and Juliet (1997 release)
• Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann) Visually appealing, great soundtrack. Violence, guns, cars for the boys, romance for the girls, all liked it.
• Schindler's List Steven Speilberg dir. Used at SC level , generates many activites
• Sense and Sensibility Ang Lee dir. Form 7 "light relief" but easy to teach, very obvious techniques
• The Shadow Russell Mulcahy dir. Good for year 12.
• Shawshank Redemption Frank Darabont dir. Forms 6/7 , challenging film, definite themes/ messages, good contrasts, symbolism clearly defined, great ending, emotional and memorable. Powerful use of a variety of techniques, characterisation cleverly executed, symbolism and a gripping storyline, narrator technique effective
• Shame Steve Jodrell dir. Australian film uses western genre to show women/men supporting each other against injustice/abuse. Alternative year 12 class
• Silence of the Lambs Jonathan Demme dir. Excellent for film work with seniors
• Stand by Me dir Reiner. Based on a novel by Stephen King. Many useful film techniques
• Strictly Ballroom Baz Luhrmann dir.
• Take Five (Shorts NZ ) Mike Fowler. Complete with video clips and teacher text Humourous
• Tess of the D'U rbavilles Ian Sharp dir. (TV 1998) Based on a novel by Thomas Hardy. Trialling at present but seems to be working
• To Sir With Love James Clavell Film and book. Year 11. Done with alternative 6th form.
• To the Island Use as a comparison between text and film (form 7).
• Utu Geoff Geoff Murphy dir.
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape A lot of issues covered, well received by students. Modern, humourous, covers family, teenage issues, students relate despite a very different setting. Year 12 students have loved this and it reverses so many film conventions. Leonardo di Caprio in an early role intrigued form 5 class, humour and pathos, good for theme of growing up/coming of age
• Witness Peter Weir dir. Worked well with form 5